Power driven fabric trimming machine



May '11, 1954 R. J. CROWLEY 2,673,095

POWER DRIVEN FABRIC TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 30, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 y 11, 1954 R. J. CROWLEY 2,673,096

POWER DRIVEN FABRIC TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 11, 1954 R. J. CROWLEY 2,673,095

POWER DRIVEN FABRIC TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 11, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POWER DRIVEN FABRIC TRIMMING MACHINE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to power driven, fabric trimming machines and the prime object of the invention is to provide a machine which when in operation will automatically cut the edges of two seamed fabrics in step like formation or such that the trimmed edge of the upper fabric is considerably nearer the seam than that of the lower or under fabric.

A further object is to provide special attachments for mounting on an existing, power driven, fabric trimming machine, and which will convert such machine so that it trims the edges of seamed fabrics passed therethrough in the manner above stated.

A further object is to design such attachments so that the existing machine requires no alterations in order to be fitted with my attachments and further to design such attachments such that when in use they will accommodate the various fabric variations and irregularities met with when the machine is in operation.

A furtherobject is to provide, in a fabric trimming machine having a pair of opposing blades for trimming the seamed edges of upper and lower fabrics, attachments to said machine, which operate to trim the edge of the upper fabric in a location nearer the seam than the trimmed edge of the lower fabric.

A further object is to provide in a power driven trimming machine having a pair of opposing blades for trimming the seamed edges of upper and under fabrics, an attachment embodying a combination pressure and fabric spacing foot adapted to enter between the fabrics in a location between the latter blades and the seam and supplied at the side next the seam with a blade underlying the upper fabric andfurther to supply a second attachment embodying a blade reciprocated by the machine and co-acting with the blade of the spacing foot to shear or trim the upper fabric only.

A further object is to construct the various parts of the attachments in a simple, durable and easily assembled manner and such that upon being assembled they can be easily and quickly tion of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing two pieces of fabric seamed together and with their edges flush.

Fig. 1 is a view showing the pieces of fabric folded back and with the seamed edges between the folds.

Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 1 and showing how a ridge is formed after the fabrics have been pressed by a hot iron.

Fig. 2 is a view showing two pieces of fabric with their seamed edges trimmed in step like formation.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the two pieces of fabric appearing in Fig. 2 after having been folded back to bring the seamed edges between the folds.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and showing how an unsightly ridge is avoided upon the material being pressed by a hot iron.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of what is commonly known in the trade as a Singer High Speed Trimmer 171-1 and showing the said machine fitted with my invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts appearing in Fig. 3 and with the trimming upper knives or blades in their uppermost positions.

Fig. 5 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed side view of one of the attachments which I supply for mounting on the existing machine.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the knife holder which is secured to the slotted head.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detailed side view of another of the attachments which I supply for mounting on the existing machine.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view at 8-8 Fig. 7 and looking rearwardly.

Fig. 9 is a rear end view of the parts shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 and in reversed position.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view showing in section and in enlarged detail, the parts intersected by the section line 8-8 in Fig. 7.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the foot pieces which I supply.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a spacer block which I supply.

Fig. 15 is a front view of the block shown in Fi 14.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged front view of a por- Fig. 19 is a front view of the arm appearing in Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is an end view of the arm shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged vertical sectional view at 2l2l Fig. 17 and with the blade and arm removed.

Fig. 22 is a front view of the blade shown in Fig. 17.

Figs. 23, 24 and 25 are rear, front and fa'ce views, respectively of the deflector.

26' is a perspective view of the second foot piece above referredto.

Fig. 27 is a view showing more or less diagrammatically, the relative positions taken by the edges of two seamed pieces which are to be trimmed by a machine equipped with my invention and as they appear when the movable blades are intheir up positions or at the upper ends of their strokes.

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 27 and. with the movable blades intheir down positions and showing how the fabric edges are cut in a step like formation.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in. the several figures.

It has been common practice. in the manufacture of machine made garments to place two pieces of fabric A and B together and join them by seaming adjacent the edges as: indicated at C in Fig. 1 and then to' fold back the material as shown in Fig. 1 to bring theseamed edges between the folds, it being noticed that the seamed edges of the seamed: fabrics are. flush. Such an arrangement results. in a very noticeable and unsightly ridge. D as shown in Fig. 1 when the seamed and folded fabrics are subsequently pressed by a hot iron.

.It has also been. common: practice in the art, in. order to overcome the undesirable ridge, to seam the pieces together as shown in Fig. l and then have an operator, using a pair of scissors, clip a strip from the upper seamed edge so that the seamed edges then appear in step like formation as shown in Fig- 2. Subsequently when the material is folded back as shown in Fig. 2 and then pressed by a hot iron, the formation of an unsightly ridge is avoided, the pressed fabrics then appearing approximately as shown in Fig. 2

Machines for trimming the seamed edges of two fabrics so that they appear as shown in Fig. 1 have long been in use and my present invention relates to attachments to such a machine. commercially known as a high speed trimmer. and which will trim the edge of the upper fabric in relation to the edge of the lower fabric so that the seamed edges appear in step like formation as shown in Fig. 2, the lower trimming being done by the existing machine structure and the upper trimming being done simultaneously by my attachments.

In the present disclosure my invention is shown as su plied for use on what is commonly and commercially known as a Singer High Speed Trimmer 171-1 and as such machines are ex.

4 tensively in common use I will only give a brief description of the same.

The stand I of the trimmer presents a face plate I which is suitably slotted to receive the spaced feed dogs 2 and 2 which are power driven in the well known manner, rising upwardly in the slots and moving backwardly to feed the fabric being trimmed and which is moved intermittently by the dogs in the direction of the applied arrow in Fig. 3. Rearwardly of the machine there is a support 3 which carries a pair of rearwardly pivoted arms 4 and 5-, the outside arm being considerably longer than the inside arm and both arms being power driven for pivotal movement. The forward end of the arm 4 is forked at 4' and provides bearingsfor a short. spindle 6 which has other shown parts associated therewith but which latter are not-described herein in detail, as they allow of the proper setting of the slotted head I, only, which head carries the shank 8' of the movable; trimming, knife blade 8. In the commercially known machine, this knife blade 8 in its down position co-acts with a fixed lower blade 9 to trim the seamed edges of the fabric being passed through the machine and with their seamed: edges flush as shown in Fig. 1.

The shorter, insidearm 5 has a forward off set head 5" which carries adjustably an angle plate 5* to which the well known pressure foot (not shown)- is detachably secured and which foot, when in use, presses down on the fabrics, pressure being supplied by a coil spring H secured to the support and engaging the head 5-. When a machine is to be equipped the foot just mentioned is removed and is replaced with one of my attachments;

The mechanism for actuating the arms and feed dogs is not hereinshown as such is in common use and forms no part of my invention. Said mechanism is driven by the shaft H: which is supplied with a driving pulley II and associated balance or fly wheel l I In supplying the well known machine with invention I provide twoattachments, one of which is secured to the slotted head 7 and the other of which is secured to the angle plate 5 carried by the offset head 5' upon the pressure foot supplied with such machine having been removed.

1'.- will now describe detail the attachment which is secured to the angle plate 5 by a bolt l2',. the said bolt replacing that used to secure thestandardfoot piece in place.

On the bolt I pivotally mount what might be broadly termed a foot piece and which embodies three. major parts. namely, an outer pressure foot carrying arm M, an inner pressure foot, spacing, and blade carrying arm l5 and an intervening block I 5. The forwardly extending end of the arm 14 is pivotally secured by a pin 47 to opposing side lugs l8 extending upwardly from a main pressure foot l8 having an upturned forward end I8 and the said pressure foot is adapted to overlie and ride the feed dog 2 and operates to hold fabrics placed between said foot and said. dog so that it will be fed in. the direction of the applied arrow in Fig- 3 when the machine is in operation. It will be noted that the said foot is free to rise or lower or pivot on the pin ll.

The spacing block it (see particularly Figs. 14, 15, 15 is flat faced and is formed to provide an inclined, top channel It and a backstop flange it which flange is designed to engage the upperedge of the plate 5 when the bolt I2 is passed through the rear end hole lt provided in the block. The forward or nose end of the block is cross slotted as'indicated at lii and is then centrally drilled to provide a central bearing lE for a part later described.

The inner pressure applying and blade carrying arm [5 (see particularly Figs. 17, 21 and 26) presents a combination spacing and pressure foot l9 which is provided rearwardly with spaced, opposing upstanding legs as and W and has the one face of the leg l9 supplied with an angularly disposed blade receiving slot 19 and with blade fastening screws 28 and 20. The slot receives the shank 2! of the blade 2 l which latter, it will be observed, extends horizontally forward from thelower part of the front end of the shank and is positioned immediately at the near side of the foot l9 as shown. The blade shank is secured in the slot it by the heads of the screws 211 and 20'. It will also be noticed that the forward edge of the leg le is supplied with an elevated, forwardly extending guide finger 22 positioned. in the vertical plane containing the inner face of the shank of the blade 2P and that the front faces of the legs are curved to deflect fabric.

The parts above referred to are carried by the inner arm it (see Figs. 19 and 20) which has a rear hole it to pivotally receive the bolt [2 and a forward hole iii to receive a pivot pin l5 extending between and carried by the legs it and 19 (see Fig. 21). The underside of the arm is sloped as indicated at l5 and the sloping face engages with the sloped base it of the slot 19 between the legs and such holds the foot is nor mally in a horizontal position, but the arrange ment allows the arm to rise or fall and the foot to pivot on the pin I5 The inner leg [9 has a fabric deflector- 2 3 (see Figs. 23, 24. and 25) secured thereto by screws 25 and such sits in an elevated position directly in front of the curved front faces of the legs (see Fi 8).

A rocker lever 26 (see Fig. 16) is supplied which is in the form of a pair of side wings 2b and 25 extending from a cylindrical body 26* and the said body is pivotally received in the bored bearing 85 in the block It, the wings extending beyond the block side faces (see Fig. and being free to move up and down. The extending ends of the wings are adapted to be received in similar, angularly disposed slots 2'! and 28 provided in the arms l4 and I5 when the various parts are assembled.

In assembling the parts, the arm I4 is first placed on the bolt til, then the block it and finally the arm iii and at such time the rocker arm is r in the bearing Mi and the wings thereof are in the slots in and 23, and the shank 2| of the knife blade is in its slot being held by the screws and Subsequently upon the bolt I: being screwed into the plate 5 carried by the head 5, the parts become attached to the plate while pivoting on the bolt and are down pressed by the spring 19. The flange it is at this time engaging the top side of the plate 5*. Further, at such time, and without intervening fabric, the outer pressure foot is riding the feed dog 2 and the inner foot is riding the feed dog 2 providing the knife 8 and a second opposing knife, shortly described, are in their uppermost positions.

The second attachment which I supply and which is secured to the slotted head 1 and which retains the shank 8' of the blade 8 in the slot of the head, is in the form of a knife holder 29 which comprises a vertically disposed back plate ings.

6 fitted with opposing lugs 3| and 3| which provide end bearings for a short shaft 32. The said shaft is centrally longitudinally slotted as indicated at 32 and the shank 333' of a knife blade 33 is passed through the slot, being adiustably held in proper place by jam screws 35 carried by shaft 32. A flat spring 35 is entered in the slot of the head '5 between the shank of the blade 33 and the back plate 39 and has its free upper end engaging the upper part of the blade shank and acting to continuously press the lower part of the shank against the guide finger 22 which it constantly rides. This insures that the descending blade 33 will always descend in the plane of the coacting fixed blade 2 i to shear fabric entered and fed between such blades. Simultaneously the blades 3 and 9 are shearing fabrics entered between them, it being understood that the fabrics overlie the dogs which feed the fabrics through the machine in the usual way.

The foot i8 has the usual U-shaped guard 33 secured thereto one of which overlies the foot i5! as shown.

I will now refer to Figs. 2! and 28 of the draw- InFig. 27, two pieces of fabric A and B seamed together as shown in Fig. l have been initially entered in position with both fabrics located between the foot It and the dog 2 and with the seamed edge of the lower or under fabric underlying the foot l9 and the seamed edge of the upper fabric overlying the foot it. In this view, also the knife blades 33 and 8 are in their fully up positions as are also the feed dogs. When the knife blades 33 and 8 descend to their down positions as shown in Fig. 28, the blades 33 and 21 shear the upper fabric only and the blades 8 and 9 shear both fabrics and the shorn fabrics then appear as shown in Fig. 28 which is in the step like formation as appearing also in Fig. 2.

In the continued operation of the machine, the seamed fabric edges are cut in the continuous step like formation, being fed through by the dogs in the usual way and the upper fabric being held elevated by the foot is with which is associated the blade 2 I The design and construction of the attachment carried by the arm it is such that it can accommodate itself to all irregularities found in practice and due to fabric sources and such attachment is a unit which can be easily mounted on the plate 5* upon the removal of the standard pressure foot with which trimming machines are customarily equipped.

While I have described my invention as associated with a designated machine, it is to be distinctly understood that I do not desire to be limited to its sole use with any particular trimming machine, as the invention resides broadly in the provision of a power driven trimming machine equipped so that when in operation it will trim seamed fabrics passed therethrough with their seamed edges cut in the step like formation herein shown and described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine for trimming the edge portions of superimposed fabrics seamed together, the combination with spaced, opposing, parallel feed dogs, a pressure foot overlying one of the dogs and riding the upper fabric at the seam and means for simultaneously trimming the edge portions of the fabrics in a location remote from the seam, of a combined spacing and pressure member interposed between the fabrics and overlying the other of the dogs, a knife blade carried 7 by the said member with its cutting edge underlying the edge portion of the upper fabric and a reciprocated knife blade co-acting with the latter blade cutting edge to shear the upper fabric.

2. In a machine for trimming the seamed edges of superimposed fabrics, a pressure foot aligned with and riding the seam, an opposing pressure applying and spacing memberlbetween the fabrics, parallel to and adjoining the seam, a knife blade secured to said member at the side next the pressure foot, said blade having its cutting edge engaging the underside of the edge portion of the upper fabric, a fixed knife blade opposing the former blade and With its cutting edge underlying the edges of the fabrics remote from the seam and vertically reciprocated knife blades co-acting with the aforesaid blades to cut the upper and under fabrics in step like formation.

3. An attachment to a machine for trimming the seamed edges of upper and lower superimposed fabrics comprising, an attaching bolt, a spacing member pivotally mounted on the bolt, inner and outer arms spaced by the said member and pivoted on the bolt and having their free ends extending forwardly, an outer pressure foot carried by the forward end of the outer arm, a combination pressure applying and spacing mem ber carried by the inner arm and transversely opposing the former foot and a knife blade secured to the said member and having its cutting edge facing upwardly and located at the side of the member adjacent the outer foot.

4. An attachment to a machine for trimming end of the inner arm and a knife blade securedto the combination pressure applying and spacing member and having its cutting edge facing upwardly and located at the side of the latter member adjacent the outer foot.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cutting edge of the blade is carried by a shank received in an angularly disposed slot provided in the face of the combined pressure andv spacing member and means is provided for detachably retaining the shank in the slot.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spacing member is supplied with a rocker lever the ends of which enter receiving slots provided in the inner and outer arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,521,626 Hughes Jan. 6, 1925 2,475,759 Seaman July 12, 1949 

